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| Why Ramzan ceasefire was a bad idea | | Killing of journalist Bukhari | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 14: The murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari by militants in Srinagar on Thursday shall leave nobody in doubt now that the government of India hadn't applied its mind while announcing a unilateral Ramzan ceasefire in Kashmir.
Apart from Bukhari's killing at the busy Press Enclave in Srinagar on Eid eve, militants intensified their activities during the Ramzan, taking advantage of the fact that hands of the security forces were virtually tied, thanks to the ceasefire.
Also on Thursday, terrorists opened fire at a joint checkpoint of CRPF and Police near Pulwama's Gangoo. Earlier, Lassipora police station in Pulwama came under attack after a group of militants hurled an Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) at it. On Wednesday night, militants abducted a Territorial Army soldier in south Kashmir's Shopian.
Two days ago, a terrorist attack in Pulwama resulted in the loss of lives of two police personnel, while injuring three others. Militants also targeted a CRPF picket in Anantnag the same day, injuring 10 jawans in the process.
Militants and other separatist elements exploited the Ramzan ceasefire to the hilt, as data reveals. While incidents of stone pelting have reduced during the period of Ramzan ceasefire, recruitment of local youths by militant groups and incidents of grenade lobbying have risen alarmingly, reports say.
According to the latest data compiled by the Centre, as many as 23 youths have been recruited by militant groups during the first 19 days of the ceasefire.
The data also shows that of the total number of grenade lobbying incidents reported in the month of May, more than 80 percent took place during the ceasefire period alone.
Defence experts have rightly questioned the need for having a unilateral ceasefire in the Kashmir Valley during the Ramzan, maintaining that this had been fully exploited by militants, according to reports.
"Apparently, the opportunity that came their way by the way of unilateral ceasefire has been fully exploited by militants and separatists for conducting anti-India activities. It is time that security forces should be given free hand to do what they were doing earlier," an expert said.
The ultras have especially upped the ante over the past week in Kashmir carrying out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians.
The data collected by the Home ministry indicates that militant-related incidents in the Kashmir Valley increased by more than 100 percent during the Ramzan ceasefire.
Before the ceasefire was announced, from 19 April to 16 May, there were 25 militant-related cases reported. But after the announcement, as many as 66 cases were reported between May 17 and June 13.
During Ramzan, as many as 62 terror-related incidents were reported, which were initiated by militants, while six were initiated by security forces; 22 cases of grenade attacks were reported and 23 cases of indiscriminate firing by militants were reported.
Even attacks on civilians grew in number. Seven cases of attacks on civilians were reported during the 28 days of Ramzan. In the 28 days before the ceasefire, the figure was only six.
The militants have not let up after the imposition of the ceasefire violation. Here are some other reported incidents of ceasefire violations by militants after the Centre's order:
An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Shopian district on the day the ceasefire announcement was made by the Centre.
On May 19, a gun-battle ensued between the army and the militants in Kupwara ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. Around 60 people received injuries on May 25 when security forces tried to disperse protesters after the Friday prayers near the Jamia Masjid, Srinagar. In another incident, a civilian was killed in Kakapora, Pulwama following a brief exchange of firing between the soldiers and militants.
An army jawan and a civilian were killed on May 28 when terrorists attacked an army camp in militant-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir, police said. The militants attacked the camp of 50 Rashtriya Rifles at Kakapora, leaving a jawan seriously injured.
On Tuesday, a grenade was hurled at a CRPF camp at Ladiyar in Tral area of Pulwama district. 10 paramilitary jawans were injured in the attack, a police official said. |
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